Method of and apparatus for processing starch



F. E. RANKIN.

METHOD 0F AND APPA-RATUS FOR PROCESSINGv STARCH.

' APPLxcATxoN man 050.11, 1917.

1,411,934. Patented A114, 1922. n

DE 4 SHEETS-SHEET l. 1: w u* F. E. HANKIN.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STARCH.

APPLICATION mfp DEc.17,191r.

1,41 1,934. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .F. E. RANKIN.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STARCH.

' APPL1CAT10N F1150 DEc.17,1917.

1,411,934. Patented A111. 4, 1922.

4 SHtLYS-SHEET 3.`

lj i I F. E. RANKIN.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STARCH.

APPLICATION FILED DECQI, ISI?.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4u W f/c/Qu IIIIIJ l. III/IIINI.

II|+ ...IllllI RANKI oEcAM'BRInGE, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNon ToTROY'LAUNDRY i 1.4.11,es4-?? T all ali-honi. at #idg/cloacali'fci'tizent'of "die United States, residing wat" l' lL1 )amarragenaheeoantyzofiMiddlesex 'Tand achusetts, have invented 'f cer'-'ast-atmen A, .l c eine new fard" usefull Improvements '1n Methods of'vand' Apparatus for Processing p 1'- Sarchldf 'v vhi' the felloveg,Seremi-m1 'My 'iiventio'nf re ates to starch process 1 machines andparticularlyfto af novel `method' v v 'and' apparatus" practicingthemethod -fz y'comprising *anarrangement' :of l tanks 'and yfthe methodofpro-` 'substantially half of tlievtank.v The bottom connections 'Wle"cessir'iglstarch for usefin roning and starchine machines; may. 'be@envenena 4Pe?- "formedjandfit in'ay` be"poss1ble tokee 'anis'iipp'lied, with 'ansuliicient 'i tl 'lesire'd consistency. Ation isto provide a 11S; fdr priaiine' uncooked starchthereto'fwithoutliavingito add cold'"vvat`er direc/tly'thereto. y

1A yet furt'li'ei' object.V is to, arrange the 4`variousfpartsfand'connections so as to per- 5 'ffornitheseveialv steps mfany desiredorder.

Other objec'ts villQbe'fappareiit l from the d'rawings'and'specificationwherein' are dis- 'closed Za practical'and vconvenientl embodiment of myimproved machine for'prac'ticing v my nove'l"process'.'".

' Figure ;1'liS einen? el'eiiiori pref ferred emboclline'nt of" Inv:invention. .showy ing a cooker, a `cooierfand' a container.

i liligure '4 strainer. f

. Figures"f5A "andffvareI4 vertical sectional views oii-a-no'velvalveivhicli I employ. l -f I' -Fi'g11ref7,*`is""a schematicdraiving showspecification of LetterS'Pateiit. pntman`v mettano-interi?, 1.917-

" ganrailiarusjron PROCESSING-'MARCH ing pipe lconnectionsbetiveen thevarious members of the mechanism of myinvention.

In thedralwings, I provide a base 10 pref;

erably of cast iron, onwhich VIinount the vcooker andthe cooler. Ifdesired the base may` be suiiciently, large-to have also secured theretoa containervand other parts.

'11 is the cooker ivhich, in. the embodiment shown, consists of a tanksupported by legs i12, which, legs are secured to the base l0.

The tankis covered Iby two vhinged cover lwith handles ljand hingedtothe edges of the tank at 16, each of the coversfcoveri'ng ofthe tankisdepressed and is provided with an outlet 17 with which isconnected avalve'lS.. vThe operation of the valve is controlled by an outstandingrspindle 19 hav- 'ing the handle 20.y Extending downwardly Awfrorntlievalve 18 to a cross connection 22 'fis a'pi'pe2'l. Supported ontheframework @of 'the tank .a pump 23 connected to the p, pipe '21 throughconnection 22 and having 25 "'Aifiirtlie''objectisto provide 'a'llh'n 4.

` ,tight and loose pulleys 25 and 26. If de- ,siredtheshaft 24 may beconnected to an "A 'still'ffii'rther 'ob-ject'isto arrange various"'ftanks; and connections so that thefcooked "30 starch may be )cooledpreparatOl'y. tf adding a drivinpfsliaft 24fcarrying1; at lits outer endelectric motor or other desirable-power means. Leading downwardly fromthe pump 23 is a pipe 27 from which a main `or circulation pipe A28leads to the T 29 (see Fig. 2). vThe bottom of the tank 1l is'providedWith another outlet 80 which is controlled by a valve 3l, similarinconstruction to valve V18 and actuated by the stem 32 and handleConnected to the ported by a standard or other suitable means 35. l'Theshell 34 is mounted so that .its bottom will be'substantiallyA even withthe top -Fgu're 2 ji's a "side'elevationfdofthe cooker 45' and coolerlookiigiv from'tlifejleft in' Figurel.

' -Figure is'iaj to'p'plaii vievvof Figurer2. a vertical section of theof tlie tankll the purpose of which will be "explainedhereinafter.Fortlie, purpose of -members 13 andpll (see Fig. 3) provided I circulate`freely thereabout. Extending up This is continued until the temperatureof `valve 50, when the circulation will hefrom vllet i851 connected witha suitable pipe.

fgated .loop lliorti'on *8d/The vlower end `of Y thefcasingfis yprovidedwith `a threaded (lt- X- 'tended from one .side :of the-casing76 is aportion 82 ,which .forms a stutlinghox for ythe rspindles"63 .ftoft'h'evalve handle. `The inner endot .thefhaindle is provided with acircular'head @portion 8.4.- icarrying--a lug. '85

wlrich entends within the `elongated aperture fot itlie 'member 80, the;circular portion 84 lbeifngicairried v4hy `suitablebearing in the side-of :the casing@v Proper ypacking is vinserted around' .the spindle V83and the projection :82 is closed hyacap` 86. Such. a valve arrangementis aquick opening and `.closing one and `does-notcl'og orfbec'omeinoperative by virtue 'of lthe `stili'eningof the starch whenallowed .to stand.

' .The various operations Vwill now hedescri-bed indetail..y First,the'fcook-ing operation. The proper amour'itv of starch and Water is putinto the cookerll and steam then 'injected :therein for .the lpurpose ofheating the mass. The pump 23is started,

fthe, valve F18 `lis .opened yand they valve 38 ..c'losed', also valves50, 49t-and -41 are closed,

and valve -45 opened. Consequently, the

-cooklingmass `is :pumped from .the tank to the .pipe 28 into theconnection 429, downwardly through the connection 44, valve .45,

connection .44, yl'fco'upling;l42, connection 43 `and `hack intosthetank. 11.f This circulation, is .continued until :the mass is 'cooked to:a

fsuiiicientypoint, -Wh'enit is desirable then 'to cool the 'mass forftheintroduction of the raw .stavrchm Instead 'of introducing cold Walter.into the interior of' tank 1.1 directly 'onto fthe cooking mass, thelatter mass is 'pumped through vthe -cooler which .is made possible loythe opening of valvev 38 and closing of valve 45. Themass is then ledupwardly ,through .pipe 28, connect-ion 29,

pipe 3f?, downwardly through the cooling coil.36 and when the valve -411s opened, back through pipe. y43 into the tank l1.

the mass within the tank 11 is in the yneigh# horh-ood 4of 1150. lWhenthis temperature is reached 'the circulation to the cooler is stopped,andthen the lcirculation from the cooker 1'1 is directed through 'thestrainer 4.8 instead-of 'directly into the tank through l. the pipe 43.The circulation through the strainer V48 -is accomplished by closingthe' valves 38, 45,-41-land 49, and opening the lthe pipe 2S toconnection 29, pipes 46 and l46 and valve 50' to the strainer V48.rThe-n finto the cooker 511A luntil it `is sufficiently mixed, andsubsequently the mass is led {through the strainer. By straining thefluid it is reduced to a suiiicient state so that it may yhe used instarching machines.

I t has fbeen `learned that .if cold water is added to starch that hasjust been cooked, the whole :mass will become llumpy and it the cookedstarch is :cooled to v'the tempera- -tufre of the Water that is to headded with the raw starch, vit will mix much more readily and require ashorter length of time in getting a much smoother emulsion than would beobtained otherwise. yTheinished 'sta-rch .made in! accordance with theabove "container it lis possible to make a batch of vstarch inthe cookerin accordance with the 'method above described and then pump it into thecontainer to vbe used as desired. The starch is conducted from thecooker l1 to the container V59 'through the vpipe 28, connection .29,pipe 64, valve 'and into the topof the tan'k5'9. rThena new batch may heVma'de in thecooker for supplying fthe contali'nervwhe'n 'the vcontentsthereof is exhausted At nigh-"t time, lat the close of business there1often times vremains starch in -'the starching machines. Heretofore, ithas .been necessary for Vsome attendant' to remove the starch and empty'it manually into the cooker or the-tank or throw it away. By provisionof 'the pipe 56 haying the valve 56 I have vbeen able to 'reclaim kthisstarch conductingithack into the cooker or 'containerI as hereinafterexplained, and using it the following day hjy first mixing it with asuitalile quantity fot .fresh starch. In the morninnr lou start-ing to'use the starch 'the cooker may he operated a sufficient Ilength yoftime to heat the contents of the cooker and container so as not to delaythe operation and the thus heated starch in the container may .he usedimmediately While more is being made.

Tn short, in the original preparation of 'a hatch of starch, 'the rawstarch is placed in the cooker ll and cooked by the appli 4cation yot'heat in any suitable manner. ln-

stead of 'employing mechanical agitating means.' effective .agitation ofthe cooking,y mass may he accomplished hy circulating the same throughthe valve 18, the pipe 28, connection 29 pipe. 44, valve 45, pipe 44,coupli-mgr 42 and pipe 43 hack into the top y the connection129 throughthefpipe 46, con- I v.1o

nection 47, valve 49Vand pipe 49. Any

,starch left in a starching machine, at the.

Y end of a days wolk-'may be Vreturned to vzo `valve 65 into thecontainer.

thecooker by closing' the valve 18 at'the bottom ofthe cooker, andopening-the valve twvhereu on the starch inthe starching machine wilbe-dravvnthroughV the pipe 56,. pump 23, ipe 28, connection 29, and

-then through t e strainer 48 or through the ,pipe 43 back to the cooker11 by manipulation of certain of the valves as hereinbef'ore described.Cooked starch in the cooker may i be transferred tothe container. orstorage tank 59 by pumping the mass from the .l cooker, through thepipe28, to the connec- .tion 29 and thence through the pipe 64 and Alsostarch remainingin arstarching machine may be I i returned to the-container through the pipe 56 connection 22, pump 23, pipe 28, theconnection 29 and pipe 64. From the storage tank or container 59 starchmay be supplied to` a point of use through `the pipe-61,\valve V62,connection 22, pump`v23, pipe 28, connection -29 and pipes -46 and 49.Furthermore;

starch `within the container 59 maybe re- .turned to the cookerbylpassing it as just;

described to the connection 29, :from which 4it may be passed either-tothe emulslfier 48 r4 forthrough the pipe 43 back into the cooker.

. It will here be explained thatthe tpipe 28 is the main or circulationpipe lea the .d-istributor 29.. The pipe 46- leading from thedistributor 29 together with the pipe 49 constitute a service pipeleading to a point of use. The pipes .46 and .46n con.- stitute a.return pipe leading from the distributor 29to an upper portion of thecooker l1. Another return from the distributor 29 to the cooker 11 isconstituted by the pipes 44, 44 and 43. A stillrfurther return includesthe pipe 37, the coil 36 and the pipe 43.

As hereinbefore described it is important `that the cooked mass in thecooker -11 be cooled Without-the directaddition of water .into the tank11, preparatory to adding raw starch to the cooked starch in the cooker,

.and this is accomplished by circulating the mass, from the cooker.through t-he pipe 28 to the connection 29. the connection 37, the coil36 land the pipe 43 back to the cooker.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that by the use`ot' a single pump,

. the mass which has been cooked 1n the ing to I 1watcr connections for..cleaning the various cooker 11 may be conducted through the pipe systemto several different points for several diferent purposes, and in thisconnection it will be notedthat the part 29 is ani important feature ofthe invention in n that the `starch is first conducted from the cookerto the part 29 from which it may be massmay be effectually reduced intemperature as an im ortant step reliminary to the addition oF rawstarch or the purpose of preventing lumpin thereof: The cooked starchymaybe lstore in the stora e tank 59. Starch may be conducted seeetivelyfrom the cooker'andthestorage'tank to a. point of use, and unused starchmay'be'returned selectively to the cooker and the oontainer. Each andevery one of the several different operations or circulations may beeffected merely by the o ration of valves to change the direction o flowof the material, the single pump maintaining the circulation at alltimes. f

By mounting the cooler so that the flow therethrough will be by ravity,I have been able to overcome the o jectio'ns heretofore found where ithas been attempted to ump the starchy fluid through the cooler, it ingwellknown that the starchy fluid solidifies quickly clogging the pipes,and consequently, requiring a pump of much greater capacity than Iindfis necessary'if thepipes are arranged as hereinbefore described.

vIt will beobserved .that I have provided parts of my mechanism softhatwhen 4the machine is to be cleaned the contents having been withdrawn,proper amount of water may be directed to the cooker A11,

sired, pumped through the -variousrpipes and connections.

automatic systemof processing starch, do-

ing away with the use of Vmanual labor to a great extent.` Iny fact theonly manual labor necessary is that of putting the starch into thecooker 11.y all the other steps being performed by machinery.`

l I am aware that modifcationsof such a device may be made and suchmodificationsV 110. cooler 34 and the container 59, and if v`dei as comewithin the scope of the appended claims l consider as within the spiritof my invention.

I claim:

1. ln a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a cooler, a storagecontainer` a circulation pipe leading from the cooker, pipes leadingfrom the circulation pipe to the cooler and from the cooler to thecooker', a pipe leading from the main pipe to the storage container. aservice pipe leading from the main pipe, a pump for obtainingcirculation through the pipes, and a system of valves for the `pipes tocontrol direct circulation between the cooker and cooler, between cookerand container, selectively from the cooker and container through theservice pipe to a point of use. and from said point of use selectivelyto the container and cooker.

2. ln a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a circulation pipeleading from a bottom portion ot the cooker to a top portion thereof, apump for obtaining circulation through the apparatus, a service pipeleading from the circulation pipe to a point of use, and valves for thepipes to selectively control circulation through the circulation pipefrom the bottom to the top of the cooker and from the circulation pipethrough the service pipe.

ln a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a circulation pipe leadingfrom a bottom portion ot the cooker and including a distributor, areturn pipe. leading from the distributor to a top portion of thecooker, a service pipe leading from the. distributor to a point of use,a pump for obtaining circulation through the apparatus, and valves forthe pipes for selectively controlling circulation through the returnpipe and through the service pipe.

4. In a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a main circulation pipeleading from a bottoni portion of the cooker, a service pipo leadingfrom thel main pipe to a point of use. a branch pipe leading from themain pipe to an upper portion of the cooker, another branch pipe leadingfrom the main pipe to the cooker and provided with a .st-rainer withinthe cooker` a pump to obtain circulation through the pipes. and a svstem of valves operable to direct the circulation selectively throughone ot the branch pipes back to the cooker, through the other branchpipe to the strainer, and from the main pipe through the service pipeleading to a point of use.

In a starclrprocessing appara-tus. a cooker, a main pipe leading from abottom portion of the cooker. a branch pipe leading from the main pipeto an upper portion of the cooker. a cooler connected to the main pipeand through the branch pipe to the cooker. a service pipe leading fromthe main pipe to a point of use. a. pump to obtain circulation throughthe pipes. and a system of valves to control the fiow from the bottoniportion of the cooker to the upper portion thereof. trom the cooker tothe cooler and back to the cooker, and from the cooker through the mainpipe to the service pipe leading to a point ot' use.

6L In a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a main pipe leading froma bottom portion thereof. a branch pipe leading from the main' pipe toan upper portion of the cooker, another branch pipe leading from themain pipe to the cooker and provided with a strainer within the cooker,a service pipe leading to a point ot use, a cooler connected to the mainpipe and through the first branch pipe to the cooker, a pump forobtaining circulation throu'gh the pipes, and a4 system of valves in thepipes for directing circulation from the main pipe through the branchpipe to the, cooker, from the main pipe through the other branch pipe tothe strainer, from the main pipe to the cooler and back to the cooker,and from the main pipe through the service pipe to the point of. use.

7.1n a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a cooler, a main pipeleading Jfrom the cooker and provided with a distributor connection, abranch pipe leading from the distributor to an upper portion of thecooker, another branch pipe leading from the distributor to the cookerand provided with a strainer within the cooker, another branch pipe.leading to the cooler, a pipe leading from the cooler to the firstmentioned branch pipe to connect the cooler with the cooker, a servicepipe leading :from the second branch pipe to a point of use, said pipesconstituting a pipe system, a. pump to obtain circulation through thepipe system, and a system of valves in the pipes, said valves beingoperable to obtain circulation from the distributor through the firstmentioned b anch pipe to the cooker. from the distributor to the cookerthrough the strainer, from the distributor through the cooler to thefirst mentioned branch pipe and back to the cooker, and from thedistributor through the service pipe leading to a point of use.

8. In a starch processing apparatus, a. cooker. a main pipe leadingtherefrom, a branch pipe leading from the main pipe to anv upper portionof the cooker, a storage container. another branch pipe leading from themain pipe to thel container, a service pipe leading from the main pipeto a point of use. said pipes cmistituting a pipe system. a pump forobtaining circulation through the pipe syst-ern, a pipe leading from thecontainer to the pump, and a systeni of valves for the pipe system, saidvalves being operable t-o control circulation from the cooker throughthe main pipe and through the first mentioned branch pipe to the cooker,from the main pipe through the other branch pipe to the container, fromthe container through the pump and the main pipe and the first mentionedbranch pipe to the cooker, and from the. main pipe through the servicepipe to the point of use.

9. In a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a storage container, acooler, and a pipe system connecting said members and including a mainpipe leading from the bottom of the cooker and provided with adistributor, a branch pipe leading from the distributor to an upperportion of the cooker, another branch pipe leading from the distributorto an upper portion of the cooker and provided with a strainer withinthe cooker, a pipe leading from the distributor to the cooler, a pipeleading from the cooler to the first mentioned branch pipe, a pipeleading from the distributor to the container, a service pipe leadingfrom the second branch pipe to a point of use, a pump to obtaincirculation tirough the pipe system, a pipe leading from the bottomportion of the container to the pump, and a system of valves for thepipe system, said valve system selectively controllmg circulation fromthe cooker through the service distributor, from the distributor throu hthe first mentioned branch pipe to t e cooker, from the .distributorthrough the -cooler back to the cooker through the first mentionedbranch pipe, from the distributor to the container, from the distributorto the pipe leading to a point of use, and from the container to thedistributor.

10. In a starch processing apparatus, a cooker, a storage container, acooler, and a pipe system connecting said members and lncludmg a mainpipe leading from the bottom of the cooker and provided with adistributor, a branch pipe leading from the distributor to an upperportion of the cooker, another branch pipe leading from the distributorto an upper portion of the cocker and provided with a strainer Withinthe cooker, a pipe leading from the distributor to the cooler. a pipeleading from the cooler to the first mentioned branch pipe, a pipeleading from the distributor to the container, a service pipe leadingfrom the second mentioned branch pipe to a point of use, a pump toobtain circulation through the pipe system, a pipe leading from thebottom portion of the container to the pump, a pipe leading from a pointof use to the pump, and a system of valves for the pipe system, saidvalves selectively controlling circulation from the cooker to thedistributor, from the distributor through the first mentioned branchpipeto the cooker, from the distributor through the cooler back to thecooker through the first mentioned ll. In a starch processing apparatus,a

cooker. a storage container, means to transfer from the cooker to thecontainer and vice versa. means to selectively transfer from the cookerand container to a point of use. and means to selectively return fromthe point of use to the cooker and container.`

12. In a starch processing apparatus, a cooker. a storage container. acooler, means tot transfer from the cooker to the cooler and back to thecooker, means to transfer from the cooker to container and vice versa.und means for selectively transferring from the cooker and container toa point of use.

13. In a starch processing apparatus. a cooker, a storage container, acooler, means to transfer from the cooker to the cooler and back to thecooker, means to transfer from the cooker to container and vice versa,means` for selectively transferring from the cooker and container to apoint of use, and means for selectively returning from the point of useto the cooker and container.

14. In a starch processing apparatus. a cooker. a storage container, apipe system connecting the cooker and container with a point of use andalso connecting the cooker and container, means for creating.circulation in the system, and valves for directing the circulationfrom cooker to container and vice versa, and also selectively fromcontainer and cooker to a point of use.

15. The herein described method of processing starch which consists incooking starch in a cooker, causing cooked starch to flow from a bottomportion of the mass into a top portion thereof to agitate the same,conducting starch from the cooker to a cooler and returning the same tothe cooker, then leading starch from a bottom portion of the mass to atop portion thereof. and straining the starch while being led the secondtime from a botton portion of the mass to a top portion thereof.

16. In a starch processing apparatus. a cooker, a cooler located at ahigher clcvation than the cooker. a pipe connecting a lower portion ofthe cooker with an `upper portion of the cooler. another pipe connectinga lower portion ot' the cooler with an upper portion ot' the cooker. anda pump included in the pipe leading from the lower portion of the cookerto the cooler, a service pipe leading from thc first men tioned pipe toa point of use. and valves in the pipesI for selectively controlling theHow from the cooker to the cooler and through the service pipe. Y

1T. In a starch processing apparatus. the

llil) ingf circulation through the apparatus, and 10 *valves in thepipes for selectively Control lingr circulation from the cooker to thecooler and through the service pipe to av point o t' use,.

Signed utmChicago, State of Illinois, this l5 15th (lay ot December, D.,1917,

FRANK E. RANKIN.

